Adjustable sheet folder



June 24, 1930. w, MAYER ADJUSTABLE SHEET FOLDER Filed Nov. 14. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l gwve'nl' o1, MZdemarFA/eyer June 24, 1930. w, MAYER 1,766,789

ADJUSTABLE SHEET FOLDER Filed Nov. 14. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 24, 1930.

W. F. MAYER ADJUSTABLE SHEET'FOLDER Filed Nov. 14. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gme'nio'o WakiemarFMayer Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED V STATES PATENT OFFICE WALDEIAR I. MAYER, OI RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 THE ALBA CORPORATION, 01 ST. ALBANS, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OF VERMONT ADJUSTABLE SHEET FOLDER Application. filed November 14, 1928. Serial No. 818,290.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet folding machines, and more particularly relates to a mechanism which may be adjusted to form folds of a predetermined width.

A folding machine of the general type has already been disclosed and claimed in my Patent, No. 1,607,407, granted November 16, 1926, to which reference is made for the general operation of such a machine in producing a redoubled or four-fold.

The present machine constitutes an improvement over that shown in this patent by the provision of means whereby the mechanism is adapted to fold articles in different predetermined widths without a rearrangement of the machine by a mechanic in changing gears and to certain constructional modifications therein.

One of the objectsof the present invention is, therefore, to provide a machine in which folds of different predetermined widths may be made at the will of the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a controlling mechanism for the folding device by which the folding device is brought into operation at definite and predetermined times according to the fold it is desired to accomplish.

Further features of the invention reside in the construction, assemblage, and arrangement of the several parts, as will be more fully disclosed hereinafter.

One example of construction of a machine embodying the invention is set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of such a machine taken substantially on a vertical transverse section through the machine.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding vertical longitudinal section through the machine, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale,

y substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the speed controlling element, detent and releasing elements.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the operating dogs.

As set forth in my Patent No. 1,607,407, a sheet to be folded is delivered at one side of a folding blade for mpredetermined distance; the blade is then moved so that a fur ther portion of the sheet is delivered at the other side of the folding-blade, and finally the folding blade is brought into a delivering position so that the draped sheet is taken up and conveyed to a delivery table or the like. According to the present invention, the device which controls this movement of the folding blade is caused to operate at a predetermined and selected rate of speed with respect to the movement of the sheet into the machine, so that the distance by which the sheet is advanced prior to the movement of the folding device is closely and accurately controlled, and is competent of var ing for the purpose of producin folds o Widths which are predetermined y the speed ratio of movement of this folding mechanism with respect to the feeding means.

In the accompanying drawings, in Fig. 1 one side of such a machine is shown in which the supporting standard 10 carries the respective ends of the several operating shafts, together with a change speed box casin 11. In Fig. 2, the other end standard 10 o the machine is shown as supporting the other ends of the respective shafts. The conveying tapes 12 pass beneath a first guide roller 13 and around a second guide roller 14 and are led in an endless circuit for the reception of further sheets. Second or folding machine tapes 15 pass around the guide roller 13 and over the second guide roller 14, and are brought over the folding guide roller 16, and finally passes around the fourth uide roller 17 to return in its upper flight l iack to the roller 13. The folding tapes 18 pass around the folding guide roller 16 and beneath the fourth guide roller 17, and are returned in their lower flight after passage around a delivery guide roller 19. It w1ll be noted that the several tapes move in the same direction when they are adjacent one another. A chain 20 passes around sprocket wheels fixed to the shafts of the respective guide rollers 13, 14, 16, 17 and around a sprocket wheel 21, so that these parts are driven constantly at the same speed, and with a uniform advancement determined by i the speed of movement of the feedin conveyor tapes 12. The entering sheet carried by the feeding tapes 12, passes into engagement with the folding machine tapes 15 and drops from the edge of these tapes and the roller 14 (Fi 2) and hangs draped therefrom: guide ngers 22 being provided on the transverse bar 23 to prevent any sticking of the sheet S to the tape 15. A rock shaft 24 supports arms 25 and a roller 26 which bears upon the periphery of a cam 27 fixed to an intermittently rotating shaft 28. The arms 25 carry at their outer end a folding blade 29 which may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 in the direction shown by the arrows to present the edge of a sheet draped thereover between the tapes 15, 18 upon the folding roll 16, so that these tapes will pull the sheet at its folded edge from the folding bar or blade 29, in the manner described in my Patent, No. 1,607,407.

The sprocket wheel.21 is fixed to a shaft 30, the latter being constantly driven thereby and extending through the control casing 11 and being journaled in the outer face thereof. This shaft 30 has a keyway extending for substantially its length within the casing 11 and supports a traveling carriage 31 which supports the pinion 32 meshing with the idler gear 33, these gears being held in fixed relationship to each other within the carriage 31 (Fig. 1). An intermediate shaft 34 carries a nest of gears 35 of differing diameters, each of which is adapted to be brought into mesh with the idler gear 33. One of the nested gears 35 is permanently in mesh with a large gear 36 carried on a sleeve 37 having rigid therewith a disc 38 having a large number of fine teeth on its periphery (Fig. 3). The sleeve 37 is freely rotatable on the intermittently driven shaft 28 which has keyed thereto an offset plate 40, and itself is likewise carried by bearings in the outer and inner faces of the control casing 11.

A rock shaft 41 is likewise journaled in the casing 11, and carries a short arm 42 and a long arm 43. The short arm 42 has an upper lug 44 and a lower lug 45 which have their respective lower and upper surfaces spaced apart and substantially parallel one to another to permit the passage of a pin 46 fixed on an upper pivoted dog 47 mounted on the offset plate 40. The corresponding lower dog 48 is formed similarly except for the absence of a pin, and is likewise pivotally mounted on the offset plate 40 (Fig. 3). Spaced laterally from the line of centers of the two pivots 49 for thae dogs are cavities 50 in each of the dogs 47 and 48, to receive a small coil spring 51, which tends toconstantly rock these dogs about their pivots 49. This movement of the dogs assures the engagement of their beaks 52 with the teeth of the periphery of the disc 38. It W111 be noted that the inclined faces of the teeth on disc 38 and the inclined faces of the beaks 52 of the dogs permit these dogs to ride freely over the disc 38 so long as the pin 46 is engaged with either lug 44 or 45: and that furthermore, the overweight of the offset plate 40 tends to force the pin 46 against the respective lug 44 or 45 at a point relatively to the right of the respective pivot 49, thus tending to rock the upper dog 47 in a counterclockwise direction, i. e. to withhold the dog beaks 52 from the disc 38 itself. The dogs 47 and 48 also have the radial faces 47, 48 so that a counterclockwise movement of dog 47 will cause a simultaneous clockwise movement of dog 48.

The long arm 43 on the rock shaft 41 is under the tension of acoil spring 53 which constantly tends to rock the shaft 41 and the associated parts in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3. A number of apertures is provided so that the spring tension can be regulated as nece sary. The lower end of the long arm 43 is jointed to a connecting link 54 which at its other end is jointed to the lower arm of a trip or detent releasing lever 55 which is pivoted on a transverse rock shaft 56 of the machine, this rock shaft 56 extending across between the side standards 10. The rock shaft 56 carries a number of fingers 57 which extend upward between the runs of tapes 12 and between the guide rollers 13 and 14,.so that it may even pass above the lower flight of the folding machine tapes 15 (Figs. 2 and 3) The upper part of the control casing 11 has a helical slot 60 therein with a number of offset notches 61. A knob 62 is mounted at the end of a thin portion 63 of a spindle 64 which can slide downward into a hole in the boss 65 and into the carriage 31 itself, and receives within the control casing 11 a collar 66 for the compression spring 67. An enlarged portion 68 of this spindle is adapted to enter the enlarged end of each notch 61, but not to pass through the neck of such notch.

The operation of the machine is as follows: 7 When the machine is operated, the several guide rollers 13. 14, 16, 17 move together, and therewith the shaft 30, at a constant speed. The feeding tapes 12 bring the front edge of a sheet S into the machine and beneath the folding machine tapes 15. At this time, the tripper fingers 57 are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. By reason of the friction upon the sheet from the tapes 12, 15, the front edge of this sheet upon coming in contact with the tripper fingers 57 depresses these fingers and rocks the shaft 56 in a counterclockwise direction, so that the parts move into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, pulling on the link 54 and rocking the arms 43, 42 and the shaft 41 in a counterclockwise direction. Meanwhile, the sprocket wheel 21 and shaft 30 have been constantly turning and driving the idler 33, and thereby the selected nest gear 35 and hence the large gear 36 and the toothed disc 38, but so far without effect, since the beaks 52 of the dogs 47, 48 are held a ainst movement and substantiall suspen ed out of reach of these teeth ig. 3), by the relative counterclockwise movement exerted upon the upper dog 47 by the engagement of its pin 46 upon the lower lug 45 on the short arm 42. When, however, the short arm 42 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as above described, the lower lug 45 moves relatively toward the right beneath the in 46 and releases this pin, so that the spring 51 may now force the two dogs to rotate relative one to another and retain their position in mesh with the teeth on the disc 38, and since the offset plate 40 is no longer held against rotation by the engagement of the pin 46 against the lower lug 45 of the short arm 42, a drive is established from the disc 38 through the two do s 47, 48, the offset plate 40, the intermittent 1y rotating shaft 28 to the cam 27, and t i makes a complete revolution.

During this revolution, at first the folder blade 29 is held in its uppermost position, i. e. adjacent the folding guide roller 16, so that the advancing edge 0 the sheet S is draped at the right of this folding lever. After a predetermined distance of travel of the sheet, through the above mentioned driving train, the cam is moved to such a position that its roller 26 moves from a high part to a low art of this cam, to the position shown in ig. 2, in which the folding blade 29 is in its lowermost position, and the sheet now continues to be delivered in draped relationship to this folding blade 29, but at the left hand side thereof in Fig. 2. After a further interval of time just as before predetermined by the particular nest gear 35 selected, the cam 27 again forces the roller 26 outward until it rides on the high part of this cam again and the folding blade 29 has been moved to pick up the remaining portion of he sheet passing over the feeding tapes 12, and to tuck the re-doubled sheet between the tapes l5 and 18 as described in my Patent No. 1,607,407. These tapes then pick up the sheet and deliver it to a table 100.

During the course of.v its rotation, the shaft 28 carries the plate 40 around until the pin 46 encounters one of the lugs 44 or 45 on the short arm 42. If the rear edge of the sheet has meanwhile passed the tripper fingers 57 these fingers and the levers 42, 43 return to the full line position of Fig. 3 under the action of a spring 53, and then the pin 46 comes into contact with the lower lug 45. If the rear edge of the sheet has not thus passed the tripper fingers 57, the pin 46 comes into contact with the upper lug 44, which retains the offset plate 40 until the rear edge of the s cam' in 46 is carried further into the position s own in Fig. 3, i. e. it is again in contact with the lower lug 45.

In either event, the positive block afforded by the engagement of the pin 46 with the respective lug 44 and ultimately 45, causes the offset plate 40 to come to a standstill. The machine is thus reset ready for a further drapin by the advancing edge of a new sheet If it is desired to change the machine from folding in widths of say fifteen inches to folding in widths of say twenty inches, the hand knob 62 is depressed until the enlarged portion 68 of the spindle is freed from the respective notch 61, and the handle ma be moved in a counterclockwise direction in ig. 3, the thin portion 63 passing through the neck of the notch 61. 1 The handle is then moved endwise in the helical slot 60 until it is opposite the notch which appropriately may be inscribed 20, and its thin portion 63 moved into the corresponding notch, and upon the releasing of the handle the spring 67 will cause the enlarged portion 68 to enterthe enlarged part of the notch and hold the parts in position. During this operation, the carriage 31 has likewise been moved endwise on the shaft 30 until the idler gear 33 is opposite another gear of the nest 35. By virtue of the helical shape of the slot 60, and the particular positions selected for the several notches 61, the idler gear 33 will be properly in mesh with the selected gear when the enlarged portion 68 is in the notch 61. The calculation of the size of the gears necessary for accomplishing the folding at different and predetermined widths is easily done by a skilled mechanic.

It will be noted that the machine when set at a notch 61 corresponding to 15 will fold a sixty inch sheet exactly in quarters or with a four-fold, while when the gears corresponding to the notch marked 20 are engaged, the folding of an eighty inch sheet in an exact four-fold will be accomplished. If the machine is set for 20, and a sheet 82 inches long is passed through the machine, the folding blade 29 will be brought to a standstill at its upper limit of travel by the engagement of the pin 46 with the upper lug 44 about two inches before the rear edge of the sheet has reached the position which would have been occupied by the rear edge of the 80 inch sheet. This, however, is without action upon the mechanism, since the tripper fingers 57 remain depressed, and the tapes 12, 15 and 18 continue to move, so that the ultimate result is a four-fold with three widths of twenty inches and one width of twenty-two inches. If the rear edge of the sheet has passed the tripper fingers 57, a slight further forward movement of the cam 27 occurs, but without action upon the machine since the roller 26 is then already on the high portion of this cam. If a sheet 7 8" inches long were fed under the same conditions, the tripper fin ers would have been released before the mec anism had completed its full revolution of the shaft 28. This shaft, however, will continue to rotate until the pin 46 comes into engagement with the lower ug 45, when it is again stopped. In this case the sheet will have a our-fold with three widths of twenty inches and one width of eighteen inches. It will be noted that a dearture of two inches from a standard sheet is highly exceptional and the cases given are extreme ones. By a suitable selection of the number and sizes of gears in the nest 35, widths may be folded accurately by variations of two inches, one inch, one-half inch or an other interval desired, and may be selecte according to the standard lengths of the articles to be folded.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of'the class described, a feeding device and means to drive the same, a discharge device, a folding blade over which a sheet may be draped from said feeding device, means for operating said folding device in a cycle during a redetermined travel of said feeding device w ereby said blade receives the sheet and delivers the draped sheet to said discharge device, and a speed controlling device included in said operating means whereby the cycle may be accomplished during different predetermined distances of travel of said feedin device.

2. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, a constant speed shaft, a folder shaft and means thereon to actuate the folding blade, said speed controlling device including a nest of gears of differing diameters and the same pitch, and ears to transmit movement between said s afts and through a selected one of said nest gears.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a feedin device, a main shaft, said device and sha t being driven together at a fixed speed ratio, a nest of gears, a sliding gear ada ted to transmit power from said main sha to a selected gear of said nest, a folding device, means for connecting said selected gear to said device to operate the same, said means including a clutch and means to retain said folding device against movement when it has completed a cycle of movement, and means 0 erated by an incoming sheet to release said retaining means so that the c do of movement is initiated for folding the incoming sheet.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a feeding device and a first shaft moving at a definite speed relationship, a second shaft, means connecting said shafts whereby the second shaft may be driven. at a definite variable speed relatively to said first shaft, said connecting means including a clutch, means operated by an incoming sheet to actuate said clutch to start the driving of said second shaft, means connected to said second shaft to stop the same after a cycle of movement, and folding devices operated by said second shaft during its cycle of movement whereby to fold the incoming sheet.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a folding device including a folding shaft, a driving shaft, a disk loosel rotatable on said folding shaft and rotate by said driving shaft, a dog on said folding shaft cooperable with said disk to transmit movement from said disk to said folding shaft, detent means to hold said dog from movement by said disk, a feeding device to deliver sheets to said apparatus, and means operated by an incoming sheet to release said detent means.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a folding device, means to feed sheets to said folding device, a trip finger operated by an incoming sheet, driving means for said folding device including a clutch, and a detent operated by said trip finger to free said clutch so that a cycle of movement is initiated by the incoming sheet whereby to fold the sheet, said detent engaging said folding device and retaining the same after completion of the cycle of movement.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a folding shaft, folding means on said shaft, a sleeve having a disk loosely rotatable on said folding shaft, an offset plate fixed to said folding shaft, a dog on said plate cooperable with said disk to establish a driving relationship between said disk and said folding shaft, a pin on said dog, a lever having a lug adapted to engage the said pin to retain the dog, means to drive said sleeve, and means operated by an incoming sheet to temporarily disengage said lug from said pin whereby said dog enters into driving relationship with said disk.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a folding shaft, folding means on said shaft, a disk loosely rotatable on said folding shaft, means to rotate said disk, an offset plate fixed to said folding shaft, a pair of pivoted (logs on said oflset plate cooperating with the disk to establish a driving relationship therewith, a pin on one of said dogs, means to engage said pin during the rotation of said plate and thereby move said dog away from such driving engagement, and interengaging means on said dogs whereby the second dog is moved away from such driving relationship when said pin is engaged.

9. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 8, a spring located between said dogs and operating thereon to move the same into driving engagement with said disk.

10. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 8, in which the offset plate is overweighted so that such -weight retains the said pin against its retaining means, and thereby tends to holdrthe dog away from driving engagement with said disk.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a folding shaft with folding means thereon, a disk and means to rotate the same, an offset plate fixed on said folding shaft, a dog on said plate cooperable with said disk to establish a driving relationship therebetween, a lever having two lugs, a pin on said dog adapted to pass between said lugs or to engage with one of said lugs, a feeding device to deliver sheets to said folding means for folding, a spring to force the dog into driving engagement with said disk, and a connection between said trip finger and said lever so that an incoming sheet will operate upon said finger to move said lever so that the pin is released from said lugs and said feed dog may move into driving engagement with said disk, and so that upon completion of a cycle of movement the said pin will again engage one of said lugs and thereby be retained against further movement, said dog being drawn away from driving engagement with said disk upon such retention.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

WALDEMAR F. MAYER. 

